Under the Influence? The Alcohol Industry's Involvement in the Implementation of Advertising Bans

Abstract

On 1 March 2013 an independent report called “Health First”was published calling for, amongst other things, a total ban on alcohol advertising in the UK. This article seeks to evaluate the major hurdles that would stand in the way of the UK, and indeed the EU itself, pursuing such a prohibition. It argues that the involvement of the alcohol industry is the main roadblock preventing the enactment of a radical but much needed policy. It advocates disassociation with the alcohol industry and a willingness on the part of EU policy makers to fight any challenges that the industry raise in opposition to strong alcohol advertising regulation.